Resources for Researchers

This funding opportunities database maintained by the Office of the Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies contains selected grant opportunities that may be of interest to the MSU community.

Also from the VPRGS office, find funding for Federal, State and Foundation announcements. Please note: when accessing some of these databases, you may need to be logged in from an MSU computer or using the VPN in order to connect.

Health Related Funding Opportunities including Foundation - These funding opportunity notices are provided by the VPRGS - Office of Research Facilitation and Dissemination:

Over the last 18 months, the CHM Research office has undergone significant staffing changes and restructuring. We identified a need in the College to provide high-level research related administrative support.

Overall Goals:

Increase the number of grant submissions for the College

Increase the quality of applications being submitted

Streamline the grant submission process

Lead grant transfers for new faculty recruits (GII, IQ and other)

Provide standardized metrics for strategic planning at the department and college level

Establish and maintain a presence on campus research committees (SPROUT, CORD, SPAC)

Establish a CHM research administrators group to share best practices and information

Note: the University Proposal Submission deadline policy implemented December 2014 remains in effect (see below). However, you should reach out to the CHM Research Office as soon as you decide to apply for funding. As soon as you know you plan to submit!

“In order to provide the best service possible, OSP has a “10:6:3” proposal preparation policy. “10:6:3” means that the solicitation, if applicable, should be provided to OSP at least ten (10) business days in advance; the final budget for OSP review at least six (6) business days in advance; and the complete proposal for submission three full business days (3) before the submission deadline.”

If Human Subjects (HS) are involved, you will need to obtain IRB approval (see the Human Research Protection Plan (HRPP) Web site: https://hrpp.msu.edu/

If animals are involved, you will need to get approval from Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and Campus Animal Resources (CAR)

Sponsor may require Just in Time (JIT) materials, i.e., current and pending grant and contract activity for investigator(s)

When all pre-requisites for award receipt are cleared, CGA will issue an account number. This will be the number you use for all grant-related purchases

Plan/Initiate Personnel Actions

Communicate with the pre-award office to assign faculty and staff personnel to the grant. If you wish to hire hourly or student labor, use the attached Hiring Form

Balance Carryover

If you are granted “expanded authority” within the NOA to roll over funds into the next grant period, no persmission is required to do so. However, the agency may require that you create a budget and justification for expending the rolled over funds.

If no expanded authority, most sponsors require a re-budgeting of the unexpended funds, and a justification for the roll-over.

No-Cost Extension

Most grants allow awardees to establish a no-cost extension period in which to expend remaining funds after the end of the grant period.

Most Medicine contracts – especially those awarded by private sponsors for clinical trials and clinical research – do not call for MSU to return unspent funds at the completion of the project. These become fungible dollars to the division and the PI, to be spent at their discretion.

Effort Reports

Most Federal grants require effort reporting on the part of grant personnel. MSU’s effort reporting is done over half-year increments. The CGA site for this is https://www.cga.msu.edu/PL/Effort/EffortByPerson.aspx. This is a complicated form. It is also a critically important process; most contract and grant-related sanctions of major research universities are because of issues related to effort reporting. If you, as a PI or Co-I, are required to do this, and you have any questions at all (especially if you are “cost-sharing” your time), you need to contact the pre-award office, please email erin.gorman@hc.msu.edu and discuss.

Grant Close-out

The grant close-out period is usually 60-90 days after the grant period end date

There is usually a final activity report, a series of ancillary reports (income reports, invention and intellectual property reports) and a final Financial Status Report (FSR) due at the end of that time

The pre-award office will work with CGA to finalize the FSR and some of the ancillary reports

For standard cost-reimbursement grants, any unspent funds are forfeit back to the sponsor. Funds from fixed-cost agreements such as with private firms, as mentioned above, are generally kept by the University and the department.

Post-Award FAQ's

I’VE BEEN TOLD ONE OF MY GRANT/CONTRACT PROPOSALS WILL BE FUNDED, WHAT SHOULD I DO?

Follow these steps:

Inform the DOM Office for Research Post-Award Office (thomas@hc.msu.edu) of your award

Share your notice of award and any other materials with the Office for Research

Interface with Contract & Grant Administration (CGA) from creation of the project account thru closeout of the account

Add personnel salary distribution to the grant in accordance with the budget and at the direction of the Principal Investigator (PI).

CAN I SIGN A CONTRACT TO ACCEPT AN AWARD AGREEMENT OR CONTRACT?

No. Only an authorized agent such as a CGA manager can sign an agreement and bind the University in an agreement. Remember, the grant/contract is with the University; the Principal Investigator executes the project on the University’s behalf.

WHAT IF I AM A PI ON A SUB-AWARD, i.e., WITH ANOTHER UNIVERSITY?

Basically, this is treated like a grant. However, all terms and conditions of the prime contract with the prime awardee (i.e., NIH) “flow down” to MSU, and MSU (and you, the PI) must comply.

NIH's new grant application rules for 2016 - Tom Hollon, grant editor and consultant, joined the staff of the Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies in 2015. He has over 10 years of experience as a grant consultant with a strong focus on NIH. To review and comply with the new rules, Mr. Hollen has provided NIH guideline slides.

NIH Systems

eRA CommonsThe Electronic Research Administration (ERA) Commons is where NIH grantee organizations and grantees exchange information about the administration of proposal submissions and funded proposals.

NIH RePORTERSite where the public can find research funded projects based on title, primary investigator, and other criteria.

NIH's new grant application rules for 2016 - Tom Hollon, grant editor and consultant, joined the staff of the Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies in 2015. He has over 10 years of experience as a grant consultant with a strong focus on NIH. To review and comply with the new rules, Mr. Hollen has provided NIH guideline slides.

MSU ScholarsThis site highlights the publications of MSU's researchers, as reflected in Elsevier's Scopus database, and their grants, as reflected in MSU's Contracts and Grants database. It can be used to search for expertise, identify research opportunities, and facilitate collaborations.